AUBURN, Ala. – When Austin Wiley signed with Auburn in 2016, the plan was to jumpstart the basketball program and take it to new heights. Little did he know at the time that those heights would include two separate SEC titles and a trip to the Final Four.
None of it would have been possible if not for Wiley or Anfernee McLemore or Danjel Purifoy or Samir Doughty or J'Von McCormick. All five seniors have played various roles and made contributions to the success over the last two seasons, and this year they have been the driving force behind an Auburn team that is 24-5 and one win away from clinching a double bye in the SEC Tournament.
On Wednesday night, those five seniors will play their last game inside Auburn Arena. A win and the 17th-ranked Tigers will finish a perfect 17-0 at home this season.
"It means a lot to us," Wiley said. "We've been through a lot of ups and downs during our time here at Auburn and to go out and possibly be an undefeated team at home this year, one of the few teams to do it, it means a lot."
"There's a lot of culture that is going to be playing their last home game here at Auburn," added head coach Bruce Pearl. "In the sense that it takes years to develop, and all I've got to do is point to these seniors. The freshmen that came in picked up on it pretty quickly. That's because they had incredible leadership and buy-in (from the seniors). I'm grateful."
Auburn is hosting a Texas A&M team that spoiled its Senior Night four years ago. In fact, the Aggies have never lost in Auburn Arena (4-0). But with the postseason right around the corner, the Tigers are ramping up for a late push similar to last year.
"Everybody knows in the postseason we need to step our game up, and I feel like everyone on the team has another level they can reach," Wiley said. "You will have to stay tuned."
That late-season push starts Wednesday night. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. CT from Auburn Arena. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The game will also be televised on ESPN2 with Richard Cross and Brooke Weisbrod on the call.
Player(s) to watch: 2020 Senior Class
Auburn is set to honor the winningest class in program history Wednesday night inside Auburn Arena. The Tigers will recognize Thomas Collier, Samir Doughty, Will Macoy, J'Von McCormick, Anfernee McLemore, Danjel Purifoy and Austin Wiley. Collectively, the group has amassed 3,824 points, 1,935 rebounds, 573 assists, 375 steals and 331 blocks.
Inside the series: Texas A&M
The Tigers and Aggies are set to square off for the 16th time in series history. Texas A&M holds a 10-5 advantage in the all-time series, and since the Aggies joined the SEC prior to the 2012-13 season, Auburn has won just three of the 10 meetings.
Last year in College Station, Bryce Brown caught fire early scoring 20 points in the first half, including 18 straight at one point. Jared Harper had 17 points and six assists while Anfernee McLemore rattled off 13 points on 3-of-4 shooting behind the arc and six rebounds to highlight Auburn's 85-66 win.
Auburn Arena sellouts
Auburn posted its first sellout of the season in December against NC State and has done so 10 more times since then, bringing its total to 39 in Auburn Arena history. The Tigers sold out the final three home non-conference games this season and then the first two SEC contests, marking the first time in the building's history that it has been sold out for five straight games.
Auburn made it eight sellouts this season against LSU, breaking an Auburn Arena record for most sold-out games in a season in the building's history – built in 2010. The Tigers have sold out 11 total games in 2019-20, including the last six.
Of the 39 sellouts, 34 have come in the six seasons under head coach Bruce Pearl. Nineteen of the last 24 SEC games at Auburn Arena have been sold out.